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“How to grow my business” is a question we all ask, whether by “business” we mean what we do and how we make a living, or who we are and how we conduct our lives.
Me, I usually mean both. I’ve found four reliable sources of good advice for both refining my ambition as well as growing more efficient and more effective. Use them. This advice is usually free, and often just what you need:
- talking with friends and colleagues;
- reading widely — books, newspapers, and magazines;
- searching online (finding tons of opinions. Here, for example)
- using social media and reading blogs (especially their comments).
I write a blog and read many, don’t you? Enjoy any kind of rock music, too? Hmmm… A friend of mine writes a blog for a website promoting schools which offer online degree programs. Who do you suppose is their target market? I’m guessing it includes many people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. Hoping to attract a significant number of them, perhaps, she recently gave her opinions about ten popular rock bands from the last generation or so.
Long story short, it’s all about trying to grow by repeating our successes. Reading this article makes me stop to think about how I make a living, and I hope you find it interesting, too.
Practice makes perfect, they say. We get better at whatever we practice, and we like doing whatever we’re good at. Nothing new here. But wait! Is it always smart to rely on what we do well? Well, maybe not.
All of us — nations, groups, and individuals — tend to approach today’s opportunities with yesterday’s methods. It’s easy and inevitable. Whether we’re conducting personal development, growing our business, or guiding national politics, our perspective tends to focus on what worked in the past. Generals always seem to be fighting the previous war, you know? And don’t get me started on some politicians, celebrities, or religious zealots.
We hear it everywhere: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. But what about repeating the same thing and expecting the same result? It’s how we learn, right?
Yes and no. I think it all depends on what you practice. Personally, I practice trying out new ideas and methods to accomplish my original vision, which is to make a living by helping people enjoy their celebrations. Here are two examples of my using new methods: I recently wrote about my first computer and current tips for managing my life.
Once, I managed the Magnolia Jazz Band with just a pencil & paper, my home telephone, and a typewriter. Nowadays, I’m still using the phone, of course, but I rely mostly on my computers — MacBook, iPhone, and iPad — for email, voicemail, and powerful applications for corresponding, keeping records, tracking results, and marketing. I’m staying up-to-the-minute with brides & grooms and event planners using my smartphone, email, and text messages.
Talk about growing my business! I’m seeing more opportunities for entertaining at weddings and parties. Every day I find a wealth of inspiring new planning ideas available on the internet, especially with social media. With personal calls and teleconferences, I can easily share ideas with clients and colleagues locally and nation-wide. I can barely keep up with advances in audio-visual technology, which constantly provide a torrent of new features for events, ranging from sound reinforcement to visual presentations.
Nevertheless looking around, we often seem to be thinking like blacksmiths about two hundred years ago. “Well, we have no machinists yet, and nobody’s invented the automobile yet, so my future is assured if I just focus on making better and better hardware and horseshoes.”
One of my wife’s grandfathers was a rural blacksmith in tiny Mazeppa, MN. He made horseshoes, tools, and repaired farm equipment. When he saw the ominous handwriting on the wall, he decided to open a shop for selling and repairing those new automobiles. Smart man.
Similarly, we’d be smart to think ahead of the curve, beyond today’s limitations. Life will change. I regularly wonder about how to grow my business, and I recommend you do so, too.
Whatever you do, personally or professionally, how are you keeping your ideas and ambitions fresh and up-to-date? Have you found any techniques I haven’t mentioned?
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The Magnolia Jazz Band entertains regularly at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you’re ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood. In the meantime, please join our Facebook “fans”, and you’ll get reminders for our public events.
Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.
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Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.
How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use [email protected]. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.
Hi Robbie,
I pretty much do what you do to keep myself up to date. Two things I would add is I get support. I hire a coach to help keep me on my toes and I often try out the things I read on myself to see what I feel in line with and what I don’t. Thanks for sharing this post. Wonderful!
Alara K. Castell
Your Sassy Spiritual Guide
I became involved with social media on-line in part to keep myself moving forward and and to avoid being left behind as an “old generation”–I didn’t want to see the world move somewhere I couldn’t go. At the same time, I like to hold on to the tried and true when it still works for me. I still turn to a pad and pen sometimes for my writing, and I love physical books (even though Kindle is kinder to my eyes!) I think it’s all about what purpose we have and how we can achieve that purpose in terms of what is smart and what is just moving chaotically with what looks new.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
“My cat owns me, my clutter stymies me, my writing frees me. Word maven loves—and learns from—ordinary life.”
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/
It’s definitely helpful to keep your eye both on the prize (the business) and what new things are coming down the pike to make adjustments. I think of new technology, new media, new methods as simply reaching more people to let them know how I can help them. My *purpose* never changes. My level of comfort in using different methods does, though!
Jillian Todd
Jillian Todd Portrait Couture
http://www.jilliantodd.com
Smart advice. As I get older I know it’s that much more important to stay abreast of what’s coming down the pike. It is why I am using social media, blogging, tweeting, Facebook. It is where consumers are, potential customers and even more fun, new friends. When I started my business I was told that my customers would become my friends. I thought, yeah, right! It’s been true. Now I am making friends and they may or may not become customers but I so value the relationships I am building and what I am learning. And I know it is helping my business!
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com
Social Media is what I am doing right now and will continue to do as I see the benefits for both of my educational businesses. Networking in person keeps me fresh, too and up to date with the goings on in my industry. Personal contact is still important! I read, blog, comment, tweet, attend conferences – always a great place to find some new strategies for business development!
It’s all about getting creative these days! And I do believe social media is a huge part of any success story. It’s amazing how everything is instantly linked up. Glad we don’t have to rely on the yellow pages anymore. Facebook is the most important for me, as I make event invites there. And then people can pass it around and invite more people.
Hi Robbie! About 15 years ago, I knew I loved food and cooking, but there were very few avenues available for me in terms of career, short of working long hours in a restaurant. Enter the Food Network and everyone re-discovered their love, not only of food, but LEARNING about it! What a boon! It’s tools like this that can change your life! It is so important to keep up on the tools we have now as well as those on the horizon. I’m grateful to Social Media not only for how powerful it can be, but also as a means of keeping up with what other colleagues are doing! Thanks for your post!
Very intersting…..I guess I am trying to do what you are suggesting…stay on top of things…and keep moving forward! I got involved with SNCC for that reason and although it was all over my head at the time it has propelled me into the twitter universe….ahead of the times (fellow co-workers) for sure! With that comes the old tried and true, books to be read, lessons to be learned, in person interactions, friends to be made, and connections to be had….so its a combination for me. I appreciate your focus and advice for staying on the cutting edge…and up with the times….it matters in business!
Rita Brennan Freay
@Rita4kids
ritabrennanfreay.com
I did jump on the social media trend early, but I learned from SNCC why although I was there my business wasn’t growing. But I still need life management help as in balancing all the facets of my life and making sure all areas are being nurtured properly.
Yvonne Hall
http://www.facebook.com/wildforwildtree
Great insight, Robbie. We live in a world of constant and rapid change. As business owners, we need to be evolving as well.
Constantly learning and thinking of new ways to grow in all areas of my life – not only business. Obviously I am staying on the cutting edge of Social Media marketing through my coaching on SNCC and evolving into having my own licensed site. I am moving onto do workshops next and and getting involved in the local in person networking community, have also formed a very small mastermind group. New ideas coming all the time to keep growing and learning, it’s the only way to be.
Louise Edington
Facing Fears For Freedom Over Fifty
http://louiseedington.com
Very impressive and inspiring, Robbie! and as always, I so enjoy your videos! Growing our business is something we are always thinking about; regardless of the happy customers we already have, the rate of attrition that happens makes it necessary to be attracting new customers all the time. My husband has always been on top of all the newest and latest trends and advancements in the automotive world, technology-wise and other-wise, so that helps us stay somewhat ahead of the curve…we have the latest equipment and keep everyone that works for us (including ourselves!) in classes to continue to learn. My role as the marketing and HR person has evolved over the years as well, and I am somewhat amazed by all the changes, including all I am learning through Ann and SNCC and by reading all the blogs here on Blogger Monday…I never really knew there were so many people out there writing blogs, and now I am almost overwhelmed by the amount of information out there! Which also means I am learning to be more discerning about what I spend my time on and who I follow. I see how you are obviously enjoying your work and all that you are doing to make other people’s lives more enjoyable too! I applaud your energy and enthusiasm and creativity!
It certainly is easy to get stuck in old behaviors Robbie. When I get overworked or in a hurry I find myself settling in to old habits that aren’t necessarily productive or good for my business. Thank goodness I’m inquisitive so that I desire to keep learning new things and keeping up, while thinking through how it will affect me and my business – just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s better. Your wife’s grandfather was a smart entrepeneur – I wonder what he would have thought of social media!
What I love most about staying on the growing edge with business is that it a platform for staying on the growing edge of life! My business has stretched me immeasurably–networking, speaking, blogs, newsletters, facebook, twitter, business pages, videos — and more to come. In so doing, has also expanded my skills, my contacts, my viewpoint and my pleasures. I can do so much more than I would have ever thought, and at an age where many people are winding down, it’s good to be winding up!
No matter where we are in life, I think it behooves us to keep up with the times. So we dont get left behind or stuck in the mud of life. Social media has been a boon to us, creating a small village in a world of people. We can now be more effective than ever in our own niches.
Jennifer Duchene
Home Makeover Mixtess blending lifestyle laughter and Diva Dens
http://LYShome.com
Love the comparision between the pen/paper, phone and typewriter and all of today’s technology and also LOVE the story about the grandfather that opened the auto repair shop – brilliant!
Brandy Mychals
Speaker, Author, Communications Coach
Creator of the Character Code System
I think that learning starts with what they did in the past and where things have gone in that industry…then building on top of that. I try to investigate and learn before I do anything! Rachel
Hi Robbie, thanks for the link to the Forbes article. It is kind of funny to think of using old technology (the Drop Table I use is based on technology from over 50 years ago), but on the other end of technology I use my laptop for electronic records and payments, send videos to patients about stretching, send them reminders via email or txt, and have myself halfway talked into getting an iPad. The blacksmith -> auto repair shop transformation is just brilliant.
What would the equivalent be in healthcare? Maybe the transition from overstressed primary care MDs trying to do everything AND see hospital patients… to prevention and wellness offices staffed by Registered Nurses, Physicians Assistants, Acupuncturists, and Chiropractors?
Love the blacksmith example. So true. I have found great benefit from formalizing the resources you talked about where I now have a core team of advisors – some paid, some not. I find it takes things to a different level.
I enjoyed reading this Robbie. I agree that it’s important to keep up to date with things, go with the new technology and make progress. It would be so easy to get stuck in old ways of being and thinking. There were times when I was really closed to getting involved in modern technology but doing the SNCC course with Ann Evanston really brought me up to date with what is possible.
Fiona Stolze
Inspired Art and Living
http://fionastolze.com
Things change so fast these days that it is a challenge to keep up. I think it is important to find the balance between learning from the past while embracing progress.
Darcie Newton
Wine not whine.
More nature than nurture.
Discipline for profit, none for triple cream brie.
http://www.mywealthspa.com
So interesting how different businesses grow and thrive in different ways AND that what is successful morphs through time too. It’s like Qi: always moving, always transforming. Karen~
Yes, Every businessman want to grow his business to the peak point but he is not able to do so.There are some business qualities which I think very useful for those who want to increase his business to the highest level.Firstly, a businessman has to be punctual of time.Secondly,He has to keep updates of all things happening in the world. Everyday, he has to think in a very different way to become a successful business man in the world. A man who thinks different from rest of the world can become a great businessman and can take his business to the top level.